Rakshee @ Kota Damansara

Last week, we visited Rakshee after the better half had heard about it through a review. This is the first place I know of in town to serve bakso (which is a type of Indonesian meatball) and we'd never tried it before so we figured we could give it a try.

Rakshee

The dishes must have been prepared much earlier as they plated barely five minutes after we'd ordered and sat down. 

Pasta Carbonara (RM11.90)

The Pasta Carbonara was only okay. It wasn't exactly the most flavourful carbonara out there but for that price, I guess it's passable.

Lasagna (RM16.90)

The Lasagna was filled with plenty of minced beef but was a tad salty and the ton of cheese on top was a little overwhelming. Again, I've definitely had better.

Bakso Nuggets (RM10.90)

The Bakso Nuggets was the highlight of the night. Crisp and crunchy on the outside, nice and chewy on the inside, these nuggets were yummy especially with the chilli and cheese dips!

Bakso Soup (RM1.90)

Somehow, the first three dishes weren't enough to fill our tummies so we decided to try the Bakso Soup, which we'd seen a couple have at least six bowls of. This bowl comes with two bakso balls and some glass noodles. The soup was tasty but didn't really have the oomph factor. 

I can't say the food here's amazing but it isn't all bad given the reasonable prices. If you're one for meatballs then a try wouldn't hurt.

Where:

13G, The Strand,

Jalan PJU 5/20A,

Kota Damansara

Jay Fai @ Bangkok

Bangkok has always been a haven of shopping and food, and on every trip we'd frequent the restaurants my uncle discovered when he was based there years ago. This year, we went back to this restaurant we first visited last year but did not have the stomach space to really enjoy the dishes to the fullest.

Named after the chef, Jay Fai is a one-woman (rather, grandmother) show with an elderly lady at the helm of the woks. Everything here is cooked over charcoal, which adds even more zing to the dishes. Jay Fai wears goggles to shield her eyes from the smoke, first time I've seen this on a chef!

Jay Fai whipping up the famous crab omelette over charcoal fire.

We were clever this time, ordering the bare minimum of dishes to savour every bit of flavour. Of course, the Crab Omelette was a must.

Jay Fai's famous Crab Omelette.

Swimming in a pool of oil, the omelette was superbly done with a perfectly crisp outer layer wrapping a generous amount of fresh and thick crab pieces. Two thumbs up!!

At 1000 Baht, this omelette doesn't come cheap but it's worth every penny.

Then, there's the Glass Noodles with Prawns in a claypot. I cannot tell you how tasty this was. The flavour was beyond imagination, and the huge prawns were extremely fresh, juicy and succulent.

Glass noodles with prawns.

Finally, the Drunken Noodles aka Fried Kuey Teow with Seafood. This dish was excellent on so many levels. First of all, the kuey teow was cooked al dente. Second, it was mixed with prawns, squid and crab - all so very fresh and well cooked. Lastly, this was all very well complemented by the secret mix of Jay Fai's sauces. If there was a food heaven, this dish would most definitely make the cut. 

Why is it called drunken noodles though? Well, they say that one day a man who's had quite a few drinks visited a hawker in the wee hours of the morning, looking for food. So, they whipped up this dish with the available ingredients.

Drunken Noodles.

The menu here is in both Thai and English so it's easily accessible for tourists. Even Martha Stewart is a fan!

Jay Fai with Martha Stewart.

If you're ever in Bangkok, do try this place out. Highly recommended! Plus your taste buds will thank you.

Where:
327 Maha Chai Rd,
Khwaeng Samran Rat,
Khet Phra Nakhon,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon,
10200 Thailand.

Restoran Boston Baru 伸波士顿餐室 @ Klang

Having been here before, I'm well aware of the wait time for the dishes to be served at Restoran Boston Baru. The wait time is known to be extremely long (for the not so patient ones), so I was wary at heading back but as they say, after some time people forget the pain and failure and in this case the wait time, and dove tummy first back to the restaurant.

Restoran Boston Baru at 6pm.

By the time we got there, most of the tables were occupied and it was only 6pm. We were lucky to have gotten the last few tables available.

Then, it was a game of hide and seek with the person in charge as it took a good 20 minutes for our orders to finally be taken. 

With high spirits and a semi-full stomach, we eagerly awaited our dinner. Dish after dish plated at the other tables as we watched in full hope of ours being next. An hour went by and still nothing. I wasn't hungry yet at this point. But with the two hour mark fast approaching my patience was wearing thin. Poor better half was once again at the wrong end of my wrath. Then as if the food gods were upon us, the first dish appeared! Woohoo!

Fried Kuey Teow.

The Fried Kuey Teow wasn't bad at all, but was it worth waiting almost two hours? I'm not so sure. I'd opt for the neighbourhood Robert Char Kuey Teow with a wait time of 10min anytime.

It was another 20min before the next dish was served.

Teochew Steamed Fish.

The Teochew Steamed Fish was superbly steamed with expert skills as the meat was well tender and juicy. Generously filled with plenty of ingredients to supplement, the soup was extremely delicious, making one down it as if dying from thirst.

It wasn't long until the final dish was served.

Nestum Mantis Prawn.

Fried to perfection, the mantis prawn seemed to be fresh off the waters, layered in a crisp batter and a ton of nestum, the Nestum Mantis Prawn has got to be my favourite.

At the end of the night, the better half asked if I'd ever return again. This is one difficult question to answer. I do enjoy the food very much but the wait time is bordering the lines of ridiculousness, to which he cheekily responded that perhaps it would be good training ground for my patience. Fine, challenge accepted!!! I shall return in future, but next time we will have to time our arrival to be at the front end of the batch.

If you're looking for above average seafood (read very good steamed fish and nestum mantis prawns) at reasonable prices, do head over to give it a try at least once. A word of advice though, do not go with an empty stomach, or bring some snacks as the wait has the potential to make one hangry. Heck, you could even bring board games or a movie to pass the time!

Where:

Jalan Taiping,

Kawasan 18, 

41400 Klang.

When: 

6pm - 2am, Daily except Wednesdays

Cake Jalan Tiung @ Shah Alam

I'd read about Cake Jalan Tiung in an article listing the up and coming cake shops in town but never found the time to head over until the other day when finally a good friend of mine (who's a big fan) took me there.

My friend tells me that you've got to be early-ish to enjoy the cakes on offer, otherwise you'd be in for disappointment and a lack of sugary goodness.

The selection may not be as impressive as the likes of Sugar Rush but as they say - less is more. I've got to say, the quality of the cakes here is tip top.

With just the perfect level of sweetness, the Salted Caramel Cake was one of the best I've had. The chocolate cake was deliciously moist, and was perfectly paired with a drizzle of salted caramel.
The Chocolate Chip Cookies were nice but I still prefer Mrs. Fields or Famous Amos.

On a second trip there, there was a different selection of cakes available. The pink one is infused with rose it seems, and the icing definitely has a hint of sirap bandung. Cocoa Pops is yet another delicious chocolate cake with a creamy choc filled with choc pops in between the layers.

The treats here are most delectable yet doesn't crack the sugar-meter on the tastebuds. Definitely one sweet treat worth returning to!

Where:
31, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah J 9/J,
Seksyen 9, 40100 Shah Alam,
Selangor.

When:
Wed-Sun, 12pm-7pm

Wondermama 玩得妈妈 @ 1 Utama

Wondermama recently opened at 1 Utama, along with a few other new restaurants popping up in the mall. Didn't even realise it already had an established branch in Bangsar.

Wondermama.

Wondermama serves up wholesome Malaysian fusion dishes, where one is surrounded by an ambience that is filled with memories of one's childhood from yesteryear.

Superwoman Laksa and Spaghetti Carbonara for the kids.

The Superwoman Laksa is basically wantan mee drenched in nyonya laksa soup, filled with squid, egg, and fu chuk. Uber delicious!!!

The Spaghetti Carbonara is popular with the kids. The bottle of Yakult is definitely a crowd aka kid pleaser.

Tom Yum Fried Rice.

The Tom Yum Fried Rice was another interesting dish with squid infused with the rice, and mussels, keropok and fried chicken on the side. Another delicious dish.

Red Bean Nangka Roll and Chekodok Pisang.

Of course, dessert is a must. The Red Bean Nangka Roll, as its name suggests, is exactly what it is. Never imagined this combination would work but to my pleasant surprise, it was quite appetising. Also, one can never go wrong with Chekodok Pisang. 

I'd definitely return to try the other dishes. One thing though, service wasn't very good even though they seemed plenty staffed.

Where:

S131 Second Floor,

Bandar Utama,

47800 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor.

When: 

Daily 10am - 10pm 

Malaccan Delights

It's been a whole six months since my last post, largely due to my laziness really. I figured it was time to dig myself out of that hibernation hole to share the gorge fest that was last weekend in historical Malacca. As time is always of the essence, we tried to fit everything in as best we could. First up, the famous Chicken Rice Balls.

You have to first endure the scorching sun and humidity in the long queue outside the shop though. Kedai Kopi Chung Wah is one of the most if not the most popular restaurant at the mouth of Jonker Walk for your Chicken Rice Ball fix.

Kedai Kopi Chung Wah for Chicken Rice Balls

It was a good 40 minutes until we got a table. Luckily, I wasn't hangry at that point as the better half had made sure I was well full with homemade breakfast of toast, sausages and poached eggs.

Chicken Rice Balls

The rice balls were flavourful but a tad small while the chicken was deliciously done as well but we didn't think that it was worth RM30 (including the drink). Most definitely overrated but it was easy to fall into the tourist trap.

Speaking of tourist traps, we fell into yet another overpriced one on the river cruise. Nevertheless, it was quite a relaxing one along a somewhat scenic route with a view of some historical kampungs (villages).

View of one of the many bridges along the river.

Not before Durian Cendol to satiate out dessert stomach. The gula melaka was a bit too sticky though, not the best.

Durian Cendol at the corner shop right across from Chung Wah,

Back from our cruise, and our stomachs are ready for the next round.

Assam Laksa and Ais Kacang.

This Assam Laksa and Ais Kacang can be found at Jonker 88 at the other end of the street. The restaurant is perpetually filled with hungry people fighting for a spot. We settled for a table top where we tickled our tastebuds with the extremely satisfying bowl of Laksa. Filled with a range of ingredients (fish ball, fu chuk, prawns!!) you wouldn't normally see in a typical bowl of Laksa, it was very much worth the standing. The Ais Kacang was alright, not too big a fan of it usually anyway.

Filled to the brim by this time, we gave our tummies (and feet!) a break before dinner. After a good afternoon's rest, we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe.

Mac and Cheese, with a side of mashed potatoes.

The Mac and Cheese was mouthwatering to say the least. Cooked al dente, it was firm to the bite, and oh-so-deliciously covered in cheese which was somewhat sprinkled with chilli flakes. Delicioso!!! The grilled chicken on it was well done too. The garlic bread was only okay. One cannot go wrong with mashed potatoes, which was quite good but we felt afterwards was too much for the palate as we found out that dessert was huge as!

Hot fudge brownie topped with whipped cream and two large scoops of vanilla ice cream.

The monstrosity of a Hot Fudge Brownie was not your classic size, but one which is at least three times the norm. Drizzled with chocolate sauce, it was highly delectable but we really did struggle to finish it. Still, it was a great way to end the night with our food babies fully satisfied.

The Assembly Ground @ The Cathay

Was in Singapore recently for the Music Run, and of course food is always a highlight of any trip. Located in the Cathay, The Assembly Ground is a café that serves up some truly delicious comfort food and coffee.

The Assembly Ground

The Truffle Fries came highly recommended by my sis and it didn’t disappoint. The homemade truffle mayo made for the perfect dip with the wonderfully crisp fries.

Truffle Fries ($12.60)

Starving from the failed attempt to escape a room prior to lunch, I was in the mood for some meat. Slow-roasted to perfection, the Beef Ragout really hit home on the tastebuds with its jam-packed flavor and tenderness. The piece of toast was slightly overdone but this was made up for by the rosti. Yummy!

Beef Ragout with Rosti ($23.50)

Drenched in white wine and drizzled with slow roasted garlic, the Farmer's Smoked Duck didn’t disappoint.

Farmer's Smoked Duck ($17)

Finally, there’s the Assembly Burger. Made with organic angus patty, red meat was never processed better.

The Assembly Burger ($21.50)

If you ever find yourself in Singapore, and around the area, do give it a try! If not for the food, go for the ambience. It’s a mere 5min walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT.

Where:

The Cathay

2 Handy Road #01-21

Singapore 229233

When:

Mon – Fri: 11am – 10pm

Sat – Sun: 10am – 10pm